Earthly Bodies - by Vanessa Chakour (Paperback)

About the Book

"Examining the cultural belief that our animal instincts are to be corrected or corralled, nature advocate and rewilding facilitator Vanessa Chakour explores our inner and outer landscapes through the lens of wild animals. How can wolves, misunderstood in myths but vital to ecosystems, teach us to rewrite dangerous stories and respect nature's wisdom? How do the peaceful coexistence strategies of black bears offer insights into sharing resources? How can the engineering feats of beavers guide us in fostering regenerative building solutions and vibrant ecosystems? What can the loyal partnership of seahorses teach us about nurturing and love? In Earthly Bodies, Vanessa draws parallels from struggles she has weathered in her own life to those endured by twenty-three wild animals-from wolves to sea lions-exploring our unease of feeling like prey; challenging the entrapment of our limiting beliefs; contextualizing the turmoil of fractured landscapes; and affirming our primal ache to belong. Vanessa's pivotal encounters with creatures in sync with their primal rhythms and demands illustrate the necessity of relying on the intelligence of gut instinct; of the magnetic pull of attraction; of the body's mandate for restorative rest; and of the sacred bonds of love. We often cut ourselves off from identifying with wild animals-like wolves, foxes, bats and bears, and other animal relatives-out of fear, ignorance, disgust, or misunderstanding, yet our earthly human bodies can lead us in our pursuits of pleasure, love, wonder, healing, and connection. With each section containing an aspect of injured animal's return home to their natural habitat, and-in our case-to an embodied, instinctual self, Earthly Bodies meditates on how this journey from enclosures, to rehabilitation, to soft release, and finally to homing raises questions about our humanity. In so learning, we understand how we might benefit from embracing our own animal nature to gain deeper self-actualization, find common ground with our fellow animals, and learn to thrive together"--

Book Synopsis

Examining the cultural belief that our animal instincts are to be corrected or corralled, nature advocate and rewilding facilitator Vanessa Chakour explores our inner and outer landscapes through the lens of wild animals.

How can wolves, misunderstood in myths but vital to ecosystems, teach us to rewrite dangerous stories and respect nature's wisdom? How do the peaceful coexistence strategies of black bears offer insights into sharing resources? How can the engineering feats of beavers guide us in fostering regenerative building solutions and vibrant ecosystems? What can the loyal partnership of seahorses teach us about nurturing and love?

In Earthly Bodies, Vanessa draws parallels from struggles she has weathered in her own life to those endured by twenty-three wild animals--from wolves to sea lions--exploring our unease of feeling like prey; challenging the entrapment of our limiting beliefs; contextualizing the turmoil of fractured landscapes; and affirming our primal ache to belong.

Vanessa's pivotal encounters with creatures in sync with their primal rhythms and demands illustrate the necessity of relying on the intelligence of gut instinct; of the magnetic pull of attraction; of the body's mandate for restorative rest; and of the sacred bonds of love. We often cut ourselves off from identifying with wild animals--like wolves, foxes, bats and bears, and other animal relatives--out of fear, ignorance, disgust, or misunderstanding, yet our earthly human bodies can lead us in our pursuits of pleasure, love, wonder, healing, and connection.

With each section containing an aspect of injured animal's return home to their natural habitat, and--in our case--to an embodied, instinctual self, Earthly Bodies meditates on how this journey from enclosures, to rehabilitation, to soft release, and finally to homing raises questions about our humanity. In so learning, we understand how we might benefit from embracing our own animal nature to gain deeper self-actualization, find common ground with our fellow animals, and learn to thrive together.

Review Quotes

"A triumphant and vibrant interweaving of memoir and natural history."
--Sy Montgomery, bestselling author of How To Be A Good Creature

"Part memoir, part modern-day bestiary, Earthly Bodies is a must-read for humans who have become estranged from their animal selves. Vanessa Chakour draws surprising connections that will make you look at the natural world around with fresh eyes -- whether you're coexisting with wolves in the wild or bats in the city. A thoughtful reminder of all that is wild within each of us."
--Amy Shearn, award-winning author of Dear Edna Sloane, Animal Instinct, and other novels

"Somewhere between a field guide about wild animals and an intimate memoir about a woman's journey toward wildness and truth, Vanessa Chakour's Earthly Bodies will make you think deeply about the relationship between your internal and external environments, and the way that each are threatened by modern life. I left this book feeling much more attuned to animal life--my own included."
--Erica Berry, author of Wolfish

"The magic of Vanessa Chakour is that her words are both balm and flint; encouraging us to reconsider how we are living our lives, where we are living them, and whether we are alive enough in these earthly bodies we are given. I couldn't put this essential and sensual book down."
--Courtney Maum, author of The Year of the Horses

"If Earthly Bodies doesn't change your head and heart and get you outside, little will."
--Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., author of Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence and The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy―and Why They Matter

"An essential text for all those who feel a deep reverence and responsibility to the animal kingdom and their own personal growth, power, and service to the Earth."
--Heidi Smith, MA, RH (AHG), author of The Uncommon Book of Prayer: A Guide to Co-Creating with the Universe

"In this timely call to return to our animal bodies, Vanessa Chakour invites us to remember our embeddedness with other beings and the earth we are fortunate to share. It is a beautiful book about healing, wonder, and belonging."
--Dr. Christine Webb, primatologist and author of forthcoming book The Arrogant Ape

"Vanessa Chakour's Earthly Bodies is a captivating blend of memoir and ecological exploration. Through poignant storytelling and keen observation, Chakour illuminates the lives of often misunderstood creatures, weaving their struggles with her own and our human journey. Her deep empathy and scientific rigor shine through as she delves into the lives of wolves, bumblebees, vultures, coyotes, black bears and other beings, challenging societal misconceptions and advocating for their rightful place on our shared planet. 'Earthly Bodies' is not just a book; it's an absorbing transformative journey that reminds us of our responsibility to protect and cherish all life on Earth. It is a testament to the interconnectedness of all living beings and a call to heal our relationship with animals, the natural world, and each other."
--Camilla Fox, PROJECT COYOTE founder and Executive Director

"Earthly Bodies is a page-turner that grapples with the questions of our time. In a technology-driven world where we're barraged by information about humans' impact on the globe, how can we look to our animal kin to reconnect to our natural rhythms and live as good stewards of the Earth? Chakour's personal narrative is interwoven with animal stories as she finds love, tenderness, and meaning as a human animal looking to fellow creatures for guidance and direction."
--Mallory Lance, Editor in chief of Ravenous Zine

"Earthly Bodies is a fiercely compelling call to embrace our animal natures and rewild ourselves... Equal parts profound and playful, Earthly Bodies urges us to listen closely to our bodies and our environments so we might one day learn to live in harmony with all of our kin, both wild and tamed."
--Kristen J. Sollée, author of Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine

"The animal stories allow Chakour to incorporate many urgent ecological topics into her narrative and give readers a chance to learn about the important systemic roles of wolves, beavers, vultures, and others. Inhabited by so many complex and interesting creatures, Earthly Bodies makes a bid for our attention on behalf of the planet. ...An urgent case for ecological thinking."
--Kirkus Review

"In Earthly Bodies, Vanessa Chakour reflects on her life as it relates to the natural world, exposing how distinctly similar we are to animals and nature. This book is a beautiful reminder that nature isn't only 'out there', we are also made of it."
--Owen Wormser, award-winning author of Lawns into Meadows

"Every now and again, a new book comes along that can truly be a game-changer ... Vanessa Chakour's Earthly Bodies is one of them."
--Dr. Marc Beckoff, Psychology Today

About the Author

Vanessa Chakour is an author, naturalist, and former pro-boxer that fosters connection between inner and outer wilds through writing, herbalism, martial arts, and land stewardship. With over a decade of experience, she has facilitated courses and retreats in partnership with wildlife organizations like the Wolf Conservation Center and the Jaguar Rescue Center, and is a Project Coyote Ambassador. Vanessa is the author of Awakening Artemis a memoir told through the lens of twenty-four medicinal plants, and Earthly Bodies: Embracing Animal Nature that delves into the parallels between human struggles and the experiences of our wild neighbors, offering insights on self-discovery and coexistence. She lives in Massachusetts where she coaches boxing, stewards a forest sanctuary and is part of United Plant Savers' Botanical Sanctuary Network.